"We don't need no driving ban!"

Club Drive is another one of the more interesting polygon racing games to grace the Jaguar system. With a few different stages and a couple of really interesting game play modes, you have some of the more addictive gaming that you might not expect to find in a Jaguar racing game. Between the wild stages and the impressive modes, you’ll find that some of the visuals are just a little below par, though the themes that you drive through are cool to say the least. Although the game isn’t a top tier Jaguar game, it does have some aspects that make it well above average and worth having in a collection.

The story that you have behind Club Drive is actually pretty good and doesn’t really fall into any of the stories that we have in racing games today. As the story goes, a driving ban was placed on the world because of an out of control number of accidents and for fifty years, no one has been able to use a car. But now, due to a rather impressive discovery and invention of an indestructible car, the driving ban has been lifted and Club Drive has been born. Now, you’re not driving in the streets, but rather in a huge theme park that has been designed and dedicated to the new styles of cars for the entire world to enjoy.

-The Game Play-

The game play that you have here is separated into three types of gaming that are all pretty interesting once you’ve gotten a handle on what it is that you’re supposed to do. The different types of games come in the form of Collect, in which you have to collect a high amount of rainbow style balls in a small play area and the point is to out collect your opponent. The next in the set is Tag, which is pretty self explanatory in which you have to tag your opponent and then out drive them throughout the play area. Timing is everything in this game and you can go for extended periods of time as long as you know when and where to turn. Race is self-explanatory in which you have to beat your opponent {either the computer or a friend} in the best amount of time.

Most of the tracks that you play on all have secret paths and additions to them that you cannot see from the start. Through exploration and otherwise, you’ll be able to find these additions and use them to your advantage as long as you’re willing to move quickly enough through the stages. Once you’ve found these additions, there really isn’t much else that you can look for and find, though you will probably find that the game is much more interesting and leaves for some more strategy in the Tag and Collect games. There aren’t any cars that can be unlocked that I could find, so the secrets portion of the game is extremely limited.

Control isn’t much of an issue here though as it was in Checkered Flag but it does take a little getting used to. There isn’t any switching of the gears and you can pretty much know where you’re going at any given time because of the compass. However, you’ll have to learn how to use the directional pad effectively in the races as the car takes on a slightly different feel if you’re not careful of what you’re doing. Something that can be a little bit of a problem is the way that the car seems to cling to everything and you’re really not sure of where you’re going. That’s just something you’re going to have to get used to.

-The Visuals-

Although the frame rates really aren’t all that smooth, there are wide-open territories and the different camera angles really do tend to make the game a joy to watch. With the different ways that you can work with the camera, you can make a pretty good movie for the replays, though you really won’t find much of a use for them during the actual game. The two-player split screen on the other hand has some slowdown that is definitely noticeable if you’re playing with a friend. This will cause some people to cringe simply because the game slows down to a crawl that is detrimental to the overall game play.

-The Audio-

The neatest option of the game in the audio department is the ability to change your radio in the car with the press of a numerical pad button. Although the game doesn’t have much in terms of music with substance, there are six tunes in all, which have some pretty neat drum beats attached to them. The sound effects that you find here aren’t much either, though the rumble of the engine and the squealing of the brakes will catch your attention at the right moments. Digitized effects like doors closing and otherwise will catch your ear and make for a rather enjoyable experience when you least expect it.

-The Verdict-

Club Drive is an interesting racing game that has some pretty good modes attached to it. Although it isn’t the best racing game that I’ve played, it does rank above average for what you can find on the Jaguar. Where Checkered Flag left off, Club Drive picked up and with the single-player visuals, audio and game play, you have something that is much more addictive to play. The control on the other hand could use a little work, but you’ll find that with a little practice, it’s nothing that you can’t get around. For those who like the racing games and have a Jaguar, this one is worth the money to have regardless of whether you’re a collector or a causal gamer!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/02, Updated 09/30/02